Disaster Mitigation. A Guide for Community-based Organizations

Transcription

1 Disaster Mitigation A Guide for Community-based Organizations

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3 Disaster Mitigation A Guide for Community-based Organizations

4 This guidebook was produced by Volunteer Florida for the Florida Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management. Volunteer Florida is a 25 member Governor appointed commission whose mission is to strengthen Florida's communities through volunteerism and service. To fulfill this mission the Commission facilitates the development, promotion and implementation of volunteer and community service programs and practices. Volunteer Florida enjoys a strong partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM). Since 1997, Volunteer Florida has been designated in Florida s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan to serve as the State lead agency for Emergency Support Function 15 Volunteers and Donations. The Commission provides the following disaster related services: Manages the activities and staffing of Emergency Support Function 15 at the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee Operates the State Volunteers and Donations Hotline in times of disaster Routes disaster donations to local agencies that need them Trains Florida AmeriCorps members to assist communities impacted by disaster Coordinates the placement of disaster volunteers with local volunteer organizations Develops the response capabilities of Florida s voluntary agencies through networking, training and exercises As a complement to this manual, Volunteer Florida has developed the Mitigation Station and disaster related guidebooks, Unaffiliated Volunteers in Response and Recovery and Establishing an Unmet Needs Coalition. These and other resources are available at Photos for this guidebook were provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Copyright c 2004 Volunteer Florida, 401 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL This document is available upon request in Braille, audiotape, large print and computer disk.

6 DISASTER MITIGATION FOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS Introduction and Purpose For decades Florida has led the nation in preparing for disasters, responding to the needs of survivors, supporting relief workers and helping communities return to normalcy after the disaster. Year after year, when major disasters and smaller local emergencies occur, the public outpouring of donations and voluntary assistance is led by local organizations, including private nonprofits, faith-based and civic groups, neighborhood associations and volunteer centers. Collectively, these groups will be referred to here as community-based organizations (CBOs). To coordinate these voluntary efforts, reduce duplication and address the long-term unmet needs of disaster survivors, many local and statewide coalitions have been developed. Two of the most active are Florida Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (FLVOAD) and Florida Interfaith Networking in Disaster (FIND). Dozens of local affiliates of FLVOAD and FIND have engaged their member CBOs in preparedness and relief efforts that have helped communities to plan for and recover from disasters. These organizations have provided services for many years, some since before Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and have witnessed a repetitive cycle of loss, repair and additional loss due to natural disasters. According to Breaking the Cycle 2000, a publication of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, prior to Hurricane Andrew Florida s formula for dealing with disasters was similar to that of other states: Rely on insurance and emergency relief dollars to restore conditions to the way they were prior to the disaster. With Florida s dramatic population growth and investment in coastal property, however, just putting it back the way it was is no longer a viable solution. The most effective strategy for breaking the cycle of repetitive loss is to engage in activities that mitigate, or minimize, the effects of disasters. In every Florida county strategic investment in mitigation is paying off. This successful strategy is especially important to community-based organizations. The financial resources they need to help disaster survivors are scarce, especially in lean economic times. Many CBOs have recognized the value of investing a portion of those scarce resources in local efforts to mitigate the effects of future disasters. When disasters occur, community based organizations respond. The purpose of this guidebook is to promote increased participation of community-based organizations in local mitigation programs by: Defining mitigation in the context of emergency management Recognizing the leadership role of the Florida Division of Emergency Management through Florida Prepares and the Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) Making a clear case for pre-disaster mitigation projects that make homes and businesses more disaster resistant Identifying State and local mitigation stakeholders Presenting best practices and sample mitigation projects 4

7 MITIGATION: REDUCING THE IMPACT OF FUTURE DISASTER Mitigation: A Definition for Community-based Organizations Disaster mitigation is any action taken to eliminate or minimize the impact of a disaster on people, property and the environment. Since mitigation takes many forms, it means something different to a homeowner or a neighborhood association than it does to a public works department, utility, airport, school or water management district. A public works department, for example, might place top priority on a construction project to improve drainage and prevent flooding. For a utility company mitigation might mean tightening security at a water plant and other critical facility. To an airport mitigation might require a change in law or policy regarding carry-on baggage. A school district might install video cameras to mitigate injuries or loss of life from an attack on the school. For a water management district the installation of back-up generators to operate overflow valves might be important. While the mitigation actions of each organization are different, the outcomes are the same: reduced injuries, loss of life and damage to property. These relatively low-cost mitigation ideas have caught the attention of many community-based organizations as viable and valuable contributions they can make to increase the safety of their clients and neighborhoods. CBOs have traditionally used donations from their members, faith congregations or the public to provide disaster relief. In many cases, the same families have needed the same kinds of assistance year after year. CBOs now recognize that some of those dollars would be better spent on mitigation to prevent future losses than on repeatedly replacing furniture, soaked drywall and damaged air conditioners each time a neighborhood floods. Such investments in disaster mitigation are the key to breaking the cycle of repetitive loss. For individuals, neighborhoods, and the CBOs that serve them, mitigation can be very simple and cost effective. Any project designed to eliminate or minimize damage from hazards to which a home or neighborhood is vulnerable qualifies as mitigation. Simply keeping a drainage ditch that runs through a low elevation community clear of debris is mitigation. Trimming dead branches from trees mitigates the possibility of a branch becoming a projectile during a storm. Cutting plywood storm shutters and pre-installing the necessary hardware makes mitigating damage from flying debris a quick and easy process. Strengthening an inner room for use as a tornado shelter (safe room) can save lives in an area prone to violent storms. 5

8 DISASTER MITIGATION FOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS FDEM Provides Leadership and Incentives The Florida Division of Emergency Management has developed several programs to promote and educate the public about mitigation. Florida Prepares is an umbrella initiative that emphasizes the development of partnerships at the local level between emergency management programs, community-based organizations and the private sector for the purpose of developing community plans to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. Under the Florida Prepares umbrella there are several mitigation initiatives and funding opportunities. Breaking the Cycle was a landmark State initiative encompassing the following: A total review of the State s building codes that resulted in the creation of a statewide, unified building code; The provision of technical and financial assistance to local communities to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities; Guidance for homeowners in assessing the weaknesses in their dwellings and strengthening them to be less vulnerable to wind, fire and water. The Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) is an initiative funded by the Florida Division of Emergency Management to assist counties and municipalities to develop a unified strategy for reducing vulnerability to local hazards. Through the LMS, communities establish public/private/nonprofit partnerships to identify hazards, assess and prioritize mitigation needs, and implement long-term plans to reduce vulnerability. To ensure that the public becomes and remains involved in the LMS planning process, a working group (also referred to as a steering committee, planning group or task force) has been established in each Florida county. One of the primary purposes of the working group is to ensure that the views of the public are well represented and to encourage public participation in the development and revision of the Local Mitigation Strategy. Working groups may also assist in implementing fundamental mitigation initiatives, such as conducting community outreach presentations on coastal hazards, insurance, retrofitting and other important issues. These actions are designed to elicit and maintain the necessary public participation in the Local Mitigation Strategy. The guidelines for Local Mitigation Strategy working groups ensure the broadest possible inclusion of the views, ideas and participation of community-based organizations in the LMS. They encourage and empower non-disaster-related organizations to get involved in mitigation planning and initiatives. Through the LMS, communities establish public/private/nonprofit partnerships. Developing a community-wide mitigation plan makes it possible for the community to: Save lives and protect property Save money the costs of mitigation are less than the costs of recovery and rebuilding Strengthen county and city partnerships through the sharing of resources Receive more post-disaster funding more quickly by preidentifying mitigation projects to be implemented when funding becomes available 6

9 MITIGATION: REDUCING THE IMPACT OF FUTURE DISASTER Competitive Federal Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grants assist communities to implement hazard mitigation programs designed to reduce overall risk to the population and structures before disasters occur. While private non-profit organizations are not eligible to apply, they may request a local government to submit an application for proposed activities on their behalf. For more information on application instructions, eligibility and deadlines, please visit on the Florida Division of Emergency Management website. FLASH, Inc. - An Advocate for Mitigation The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes FLASH, Inc. is a nonprofit, 501(c)3, organization committed to strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. The organization includes an alliance of private, public and non-profit partners dedicated to mitigation through education and awareness. FLASH began in 1998 as an advertising campaign designed to raise awareness about safety and mitigation options in post-hurricane Andrew Florida. During 2002, FLASH expanded beyond Florida and today targets its award-winning programs to a diverse and growing audience of consumers, code officials, design professionals, elected leaders, homeowners and homebuilders nationwide. Working with a blue-ribbon panel of architects, building professionals and engineers, FLASH developed Blueprint for Safetytm. This educational program is designed to provide accurate, current and reliable information about disastersafety building techniques and features to help families become better prepared for floods, hurricanes, wildfires and windstorms. Details on Blueprint for Safetytm along with other mitigation resources can be found at The key to meeting the disaster mitigation needs of any community is collaboration. CBOs Can Take Cost Effective Measures No matter how carefully we design, locate and build new homes, many older homes will not survive the pounding of another storm like Andrew. While retrofitting or strengthening those dwellings is the most effective way to make them more disaster resistant, such projects are beyond the means of many Floridians. There are other cost-effective ways to provide homeowners additional protection from storms and other hazards. Community-based organizations may be in the best position to provide this assistance. Human service agencies are generally familiar with the needs of their clients. Neighborhood associations are familiar with their residents most at risk for damage from natural disasters. Civic organizations and volunteer centers have volunteer resources to help meet the needs. The key to meeting the disaster mitigation needs of any community is collaboration. 7

10 DISASTER MITIGATION FOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS Developing Pro-active Partnerships Any community-based organization can initiate a partnership to meet local mitigation needs by taking the following simple steps. Contact your County Emergency Management Director or Local Mitigation Strategy Working Group to learn what community mitigation needs have been identified. Draw the attention of a variety of community organizations to those needs. Identify several stakeholders with which you would like to partner agencies with similar missions or clients; and organizations, including businesses, with resources that could be applied to a project. Show those stakeholders how they and their clients or customers will benefit by participating in a mitigation project. Convene a meeting of the stakeholders to discuss the needs, possible projects to meet those needs, and the resources that each organization could bring to a partnership. To form an effective partnership, encourage potential partners to: Listen to all prospective partners project ideas; Together, select the specific need to be addressed by the partnership; Jointly, with equal voice, select a project consistent with the priorities of the Local Mitigation Strategy. The participants will then be ready to discuss the leadership needs of the partnership. Does the group need a chairman, secretary/recorder, or someone to provide information to the public about your project? Do you need committees responsible for the various aspects of the project development? Are all partners comfortable with a handshake agreement, or will they feel more secure in this new relationship with a formal Memorandum of Agreement? Consider all possible stakeholders of the planned mitigation project. Funding a Mitigation Project Including in your partnership one or more organizations with cash or in-kind resources is an important step to ensuring that your project can be successfully implemented. Partners should consider all possible stakeholders of the planned mitigation project and attempt to engage them in the planning and implementation process. For example, an insurance company with several clients located in a flood zone may see the value of investing in a project to elevate outside air conditioner condensing units. A power or phone company may be interested in supporting a community project to trim dead tree limbs on residential property to prevent damage to service lines. A resource entitled Potential Funding Sources is available at the Mitigation Station on the Volunteer Florida website at It contains names and contact information for foundations and other organizations interested in receiving proposals for projects in their areas of focus. 8

11 MITIGATION: REDUCING THE IMPACT OF FUTURE DISASTER Sample Mitigation Projects Suitable for CBOs To provide insight on possible needs in your community and potential partners to meet the needs, this section will highlight a variety of projects that have been successfully implemented by community-based organizations throughout Florida and elsewhere. Please keep in mind that selecting a project from this list is not a substitute for the process of building a successful community partnership described above. Contact information has been provided for easy access to available project information, photos, instructions and guidelines. 9

12 DISASTER MITIGATION FOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS Disaster Resistant Home Model Tallahassee, Florida Background Over the years disaster education and mitigation organizations have produced and distributed a wide variety of flyers, brochures, booklets and how-to guides to help individuals and families understand how to implement cost effective structural mitigation initiatives on their homes. While these publications are extremely important as technical manuals, a simple visual tool was needed to capture the attention of homeowners and provide a three dimensional model. Project In the summer of 1999 the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross decided to use the structural mitigation techniques described in Against The Wind: Protecting Your Home From Hurricane Wind Damage to construct miniature Disaster Resistant Home Models. Grant funding was obtained to have seven model homes constructed and placed in plastic viewing cases in various home improvement stores, building inspection departments and other public locations throughout the Capital Area. Resources Against The Wind: Protecting Your Home From Hurricane Wind Damage Contact Capital Area Chapter American Red Cross 187 Office Plaza Drive Tallahassee, FL Possible Partners Building Supply Stores Builders Association Building Officials Association Insurance Companies 10

13 MITIGATION: REDUCING THE IMPACT OF FUTURE DISASTER Smoke Alarm Installation Ft. Myers, Florida Background American Red Cross Disaster Services Volunteers respond to an average of 60 household fires each year in Lee County. Unfortunately the majority of these house fires occur in homes where individual or family income is below the poverty level. These residents often cannot afford smoke alarms. Project The Disaster Services Volunteers of the Lee County Chapter of the American Red Cross partnered with the North Ft. Myers Fire Control and Rescue District to identify area neighborhoods most at-risk for household fires neighborhoods with the highest concentration of low income elderly, single parent families, and large multiple family dwellings with many children. The Disaster Services Volunteers worked with the North Ft. Myers Fire Control and Rescue District to set up appointments for home-visits in these neighborhoods to install smoke alarms and batteries or to check existing smoke alarms and replace batteries. In addition, residents received fire safety and disaster education materials. Resources Living In A Home Without Smoke Alarms Is Risky Business Contact Lee County Chapter American Red Cross 2516 Colonial Blvd # 201 Ft. Myers, FL Possible Partners Fire Departments Building Supply Stores Home Inspectors Senior Citizen Councils Youth Service Organizations Homeowner Associations Volunteer Centers Other Similar Project Locations Apalachicola, Jacksonville, Pensacola & Bradenton, Florida 11

14 DISASTER MITIGATION FOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS Safe Room Demonstration Model Steele County, Minnesota Background A Safe Room is a shelter designed to protect you and your family from tornadoes and other windstorms. The shelter is anchored and reinforced to withstand the impact of flying debris and extreme wind. Project At Owatonna High School just outside St. Paul, Minnesota the shop class constructed a model of a Safe Room. Using the "Building A Safe Room Inside Your House" publication, Justin Arndt's shop class decided to construct a Safe Room Demonstration Model that could be used throughout Steele County as a means of encouraging county residents to become better prepared by either adding a Safe Room to their existing home or including one in their plans for new construction. 12 Resources Building A Safe Room Inside Your House Safe Rooms Save Lives Contact Capital Area Chapter American Red Cross 187 Office Plaza Dr. Tallahassee, FL Possible Partners High Schools Technical Schools Building Supply Stores Builders Association Building Officials Association Insurance Companies Other Similar Project Locations Kansas City, Missouri Nashville, Tennessee Tallahassee, Florida Sioux City, Iowa

15 MITIGATION: REDUCING THE IMPACT OF FUTURE DISASTER ChildCare Center Disaster Retrofit Tulsa, Oklahoma Background With more than a third of the country's pre-schoolers in childcare centers, no center can be "too safe." In an effort to make childcare centers in the United States even more secure during earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and other natural and man-made catastrophes, the "Protecting Our Kids From Disasters" campaign in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has helped retrofit area child care centers. The "Protecting Our Kids From Disasters" campaign focuses on non-structural retrofits, emphasizing simple modifications, such as securing bookcases, pictures and bulletin boards to walls so they don't fall; latching cabinet doors so they won't swing open and spray their contents; and making window glass shatter-resistant by adding protective film. These are all small projects that a group of volunteers, with a little bit of preparation and training, can handle with ease. Project The City of Tulsa, the Tulsa Partners Insurance Committee led by State Farm Insurance, and Sunglow, Inc. conducted a Tulsa area childcare center retrofit using the guidelines outlined in the Institute for Business and Home Safety's "Protecting Our Kids From Disasters" workbook. The workbook contains information on the non-structural approach to making buildings safer. The Crosstown Learning Center, located in the Second Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, was retrofitted in the following ways. Participants covered all windows with impact resistant film to prevent shattering during severe storms; two vending machines were anchored to the wall; and plastic sleeves were added to fluorescent light bulbs to prevent injuries from shattered bulbs. The project also provided a NOAA Weather Radio to warn caregivers of severe storms approaching Tulsa County and assisted in the designation of the basement as a safe place during weather emergencies. Resources Protecting Our Kids From Disasters Contact Tulsa Partners City Hall # 532 Tulsa, OK Institute for Business and Home Safety 4775 E. Fowler Ave. Tampa, FL Possible Partners Building Supply Stores Builders Association Building Officials Association Insurance Companies Other Similar Project Locations Johnsonton, Tennessee Deerfield Beach, Florida 13

16 DISASTER MITIGATION FOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS Hurricane Shuttering Miami, Florida Background Florida has almost 1,700 miles of coastline that is very susceptible to damage from the high winds of tropical storms and hurricanes. Many low-income elderly citizens reside in Florida s coastal urban counties, such as Miami-Dade. These individuals represent one of the most disaster vulnerable segments of our population. Project The Greater Miami and the Keys Chapter of the American Red Cross partners with Florida Regional Interfaith Interagency Emergency Network in Disaster (FRIEND, Inc.), a coalition of local faith and community-based organizations, to offer free hurricane shutters and installation to elderly low income residents who meet certain eligibility requirements. Elderly low-income homeowners make application for shuttering with the Greater Miami and the Keys Chapter of the American Red Cross. Because funding for this project is limited, eligible applications are placed into a lottery and chosen randomly. The program s goal is to shutter 1,300 homes in eligible areas.if residents cannot install the shutters themselves, FRIEND, Inc. is there to help by identifying volunteers willing to adopt a home and assist with shutter installation. 14 Resources Against The Wind: Protecting Your Home From Hurricane Wind Damage Contact Greater Miami & The Keys Chapter American Red Cross 335 SW 27th Ave. Miami, FL FRIEND, Inc W. 95th Ave., Ste. 300 Miami, FL Possible Partners Faith-based Organizations Volunteer Centers Neighborhood Associations Building Supply Stores Builders Association Building Officials Association Other Similar Project Locations Tallahassee, Florida

17 MITIGATION: REDUCING THE IMPACT OF FUTURE DISASTER Lay Down Hazard Removal Tallahassee, Florida Background People in Tallahassee love their trees until a severe wind event occurs, blowing dead, dying or sick limbs and trees onto their homes or power lines. Project The Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, working with the City of Tallahassee Neighborhood Services Department, obtained $120,000 in State Housing Initiative Program funding to help remove threatening trees in lowincome neighborhoods. The American Red Cross identified low-income homeowners who needed trees removed, verified income and provided mini-grants of up to $1,500 to each homeowner to contract with a tree removal company to have the tree cut down. Resources Protect Your Home Against Hurricane Damage Trees And Ice Storms Contact Capital Area Chapter American Red Cross 187 Office Plaza Drive Tallahassee, FL Possible Partners City Neighborhood Services Department County Neighborhood Services Department Citizen Corps Council 15

18 DISASTER MITIGATION FOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS Backflow Valve Installation Tallahassee, Florida Background In many older Tallahassee neighborhoods storm water from severe rain events infiltrates the sanitary sewage system. This forces sewage to backflow and discharge into homes, causing damage and posing a great health hazard. Project The Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, working with Leon County s Neighborhood Services Department, obtained $60,000 in State Housing Initiative Program funding to work in low income neighborhoods to install Sewer Backflow Valves. Sewer backflow valves are simple devices that automatically prevent sewage from backflowing into a residence and can be installed for approximately $600 on most homes. The American Red Cross identified low-income homeowners in flood prone areas who were at risk of sewage backflow into their homes. After verifying home ownership and income, the Red Cross provided mini-grants of up to $1,200 to homeowners to have the sewage backflow valves professionally installed. Resources Sewer Backflow Valve Fact Sheet Is Your Home Protected From Water Damage Protect Your Home From Water Damage Protect Your Home From Flood Damage Flood Hazard Maps Contact Capital Area Chapter American Red Cross 187 Office Plaza Drive Tallahassee, FL Possible Partners City Neighborhood Services Department County Neighborhood Services Department 16

19 MITIGATION: REDUCING THE IMPACT OF FUTURE DISASTER Tornado Warning System Fayetteville, Tennessee Background On average the United States experiences 100,000 thunderstorms each year. Approximately 1,000 tornadoes develop from these storms. When a tornado is approaching, you have only a short time to make life-or-death decisions. Advanced warning from a Tornado Warning System and quick response are the keys to surviving a tornado. Project The Fayetteville Rotary Club raised $25,000 for the purchase and installation of Tornado Warning Sirens. Working with the City of Fayetteville, Lincoln County and the Lincoln County School District, the Fayetteville Rotary Club was able to install the sirens near the county s schools. The Fayetteville Rotary Club also launched a community tornado preparedness education campaign. Resources Are You Ready For A Tornado? Protect Your Home Against Tornado Damage Tornado Hazard Maps Contact Fayetteville Rotary Club P.O. Box 72 Fayetteville, TN Possible Partners Chamber of Commerce Fire Department Faith-based Organizations 17

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